Discharged ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ veteran, student speaks Monday, Nov 28 2011

Published in The DePaulia: Monday, October 3, 2011

The entire country celebrated Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’s repeal Tuesday, Sept. 20.

In Chicago, the celebration at Downtown Bar & Lounge at 440 N. State St., featured the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) with special guest Jim Messina, President Obama’s campaign manager for 2012, and a DePaul student by his side.

Marquell Smith, a DePaul student studying Business and Human Resources was a co-host/discharged veteran due to the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, and has been at the forefront of getting the policy repealed. He pats himself on the back for the night and also credits those supporters who not only supported him, but those who have had to serve in silence.

“Don’t just thank them for how they served or why they served, but for also serving in silence,” Smith said. “I showed up to a lot of town hall meetings and a lot of protests in the city, but what happened at that time was that there were people who were brave enough to stand up as well, which made this possible.”

Smith was given the privilege of introducing Messina to the crowd.

“What’s special about Jim Messina is that not only is he Obama’s campaign manager, but he’s also the person that when a lot of people were silent about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, he spoke up about repealing it,” Smith said.

At the event, Smith presented Messina with a military coin. Smith said that he knew it would mean a lot, but also joked that it’s all he could afford because he’s still a broke college student.

Messina, most recently the Deputy Chief of Staff to President Obama and graduate of the University of Montana, walked on stage to a silent room.

“This is a big F-ing deal,” Messina said. The crowd laughed.

“So many of you in the room worked very hard for this for a very long time, and it’s a reminder that we can still do big things,” Messina said. “We can dream whatever we want, and we can go get it done.”

Messina said that he has the pen that President Obama used to sign the repeal hanging on his wall. “I heard the President say that we’re going to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and we’re going to do it in a way that works,” Messina said.

“In the end, when the President signed that bill and slammed his hand down on the desk and said this law is gone forever, it showed all of us that we can do great thing,” Messina said. “We aren’t a country that says ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ We are a country that says ‘out of many we are one.’”

The repeal is not only important to today’s military, it affects several generations of servicemen and women. Veronica Hernandez, another co-host/discharged veteran due to the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, said that her nephew is graduating from basic military training. “I am a very proud aunt and very proud veteran knowing that he has the ability to serve freely among those serving with him.”

Filled with civilian and veteran supporters, some regular attendees of the Downtown Bar & Lounge were surprised at how many people came out to celebrate. Christopher Schoop, a patron of Downtown Bar & Lounge, said that he visits the bar at least once a week and he rarely sees it so packed. Celebrations in Chicago and across the country made Sept. 20 a day to remember.

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Students ‘Make it Work” with Summer Clothes in Autumn Friday, Oct 29 2010

Published in The DePaulia on September 20, 2010

"I like sporty sexy stuff," said Morkris. Here she pairs a black jumper with a light blue cardigan and brings interest with a strappy heel. Photo Credit: Nathaniel Andrew

The leaves are falling and the temperature is dropping, but DePaul students won’t let that stop them from looking their best.

As the weather changes it can be difficult to transition from season to season, but in a city like Chicago it’s important to remember to recycle. Just because fall is approaching doesn’t mean that you have to buy a whole new wardrobe, instead, students say to build on what you already have, reinventing your old clothes for the new season.

“I wore this jumper onesie all spring and would definitely wear it during the fall, especially if [I] layer it,” says DePaul senior Amy Morkris. She also says that incorporating jean jackets over certain pieces is a great way to stay current.

Senior Annette Lesniak is looking forward to adding

"I am a bargain hunter," said Lesniak. Here she accessorizes with a flower pendant and a brown messenger bag. Photo Credit: Nathaniel Andrew

lace to her wardrobe this season, but the staple piece in her wardrobe is her cowboy boots. Lesniak says that she wears her cowboy boots no matter what kind of weather the changing seasons bring about.

Although learning to combine wardrobes from other seasons into the current time may bring about its own sense of excitement, students are still anxiously anticipating the fresh fashions that the upcoming fall season has to offer.

“I just moved here from California, so I’m really excited about fall clothing,” junior Kara Anton said. “I can’t wait to get more scarves and I’ll always be a cashmere girl.”

"I practically live on State Street," said Silva. Here she highlights her shape with pencil skirt and sets her look with simple accessories. Photo Credit: Nathaniel Andrew

Some DePaul students venture a guess at what is going to be considered a hit this fall, like sophomore Lilibeth Silva, who anticipates sweater dresses flying off the racks of Chicago’s stores. “I’m excited about the sweater look,” she said. “I look forward to seeing boots and colorful scarves as well.”Other trends that are sure to be a hit this season are the ageless essentials like leather, blazers, and layering, all of which Morkris says that she is looking forward to.

Fresh off of Fashion Week, the resounding agreement for fall is to keep it simple. We’ve discovered that the basics in the back of the closet can be made just as impressive as a new piece by simply adding a standout piece to accentuate and pull together the entire look.

“My motto [for myself] is to keep it simple, stupid,” Anton said.

"I try to find things that other people won't have," said Burke. Here he combines a white belt and a watch with a hoodie for a casual, yet pulled together look. Photo Credit: Nathaniel Andrew

“I like to just add a splash of color to my outfits.”It’s important to keep in mind that fall clothing often has a darker hue, but that certainly doesn’t mean that your wardrobe has to be drab. By adding a special signature piece to your attire, you can quickly take the outfit from dull to inspiring.

For example, Silva says that she prefers to go for a simple look and over accessorize with items like oversized rings and earrings.

“I will not go without jackets or blazers [when paired with] skinny pants,” Morkris said. “I like the contrast between skinny bottoms and loose tops.”

Senior Tim Burke agrees with having a distinctive piece to stand out above the crowd. He says that he is all about different watches and considers them his top accessory.

The DePaul community’s diverse student body expresses their fashion sense in many various ways; there certainly isn’t just one way to be fashionable. Students say that inspiration for their wardrobes can be found anywhere and everywhere throughout their daily lives.

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Timeout with…Joe Strawder Friday, Oct 29 2010

Media Credit: Sports Information

Published in The DePaulia on May 31, 2010.

Q: How does it feel to be a senior?

A: It’s surreal; I can’t believe it’s almost over. Only a couple of more weeks are left.

Q: How did you get started in track and field?
A: I started my junior/senior year of high school. I played basketball and I could jump really high. The coach saw what I could do and told me I should try long jump, he said there’d be a lot of scholarships for that.

Q: What do you do to prepare before you compete?
A: Lots of sleep and lots of water. Sleep and hydration are key.

Q: Do you ever get nervous?
A: I tend to get really nervous because of the adrenaline.

Q: What do you think you can improve on the most?
A: I wish I were more calm. Especially because this is the last meet. The adrenaline is really high because, I mean, you’re going up against the best in the nation.

Q: What have you learned from Head Coach Pat Savage?
A: Besides old Irish Proverbs (laughing)? He always says that no matter what just go out there and do your best.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: I’d probably go to Europe because I haven’t been there before.

Q: What’s your favorite movie?
A: “Life.”

Q: What’s your favorite TV show?
A: The Office.

Q: Do you play video games?
A: There’s always time for Call of Duty.

Q: Describe your worst date.
A: Probably in high school. I was taking this girl to the movies and we went to the gas station first. I ended up leaving my wallet at the pump and so when we got to the movies the girl had to pay, but she was cool about it. It was still embarrassing.

Joe Strawder is a communications major and senior track and field athlete from Houston, Texas. He earned All-Conference honors after placing 2nd in the long jump at the Big East Championship in February. He also holds the DePaul record for the triple jump at 15.34 meters. The team competed in the NCAA preliminaries from May 27-29 before the championship starts June 9.

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Stuck: Elevators on Campus Experience Malfunctions Friday, Oct 29 2010

Media Credit: Hanna Pageau One student found herself trapped in one of DePaul’s 14 E. Jackson elevators. Above: DePaul Center’s elevators in the Loop.

Media Credit: Hanna Pageau There are a total of 51 elevators in the Loop, according to Jim Kohl, the director of Facility Operations.

Published in The DePaulia on May 24, 2010.

The sun is shining and everything is going just right. Then, you enter an elevator and spend the next ten minutes trying to escape.

Sounds like a plot to a horror movie, but for one student this was her reality. Junior Kathryn Carlisle found herself late for class because she was trapped in one of DePaul’s 14 E. Jackson elevators.

“Today [May 3, 2010] we were on the first floor when it happened and an elderly woman started banging on the elevator doors with her cane trying to get out,” Carlisle said. “Public Safety came and said something I couldn’t hear and the floor indicator blinked that we were on the eighth floor as the doors opened.”

Director of Public Safety Randy Shire said that there are specific procedures in place to respond to entrapments that are working very efficiently.

“The emergency response time of the elevators’ service company has significantly improved over the past several years,” Shire said. “I am not aware of any complaints in regard to our staff’s response to elevator malfunctions or the timeliness of the service.”

“We were in the elevator for less than ten minutes, but it felt longer that,” Carlisle said.

Many students at DePaul feel as though the elevators run slow. Freshman Meagan Floore stated that there are times when she has to press the up button just to assure that she is able to get to the lower level of the building when the elevator comes down.

Sophomore Kristen Paulish agreed with Floore, adding her own experience with the elevators at DePaul’s Loop Campus.

“A month ago, a girl got stuck in one of the elevators and Public Safety came within five minutes, but five minutes in such a small elevator could seem like hours,” Paulish said.

With a total of 51 elevators in the Loop, Jim Kohl, the director of Facility Operations for nine years, feels as though service is excellent.

“The elevators here have a 99 percent up time with a remaining one percent down time,” Kohl said. “That [one] one percent might seem like the elevators are down all the time to the average person, but we care about students’ safety.”

Kohl stated that if an entrapment occurs, Public Safety assures the people trapped in the elevator that everything will be fine and that help is on the way. Once this is done, Public Safety notifies Facility Operations and then Otis, the on-site service company, is called for assistance. If Facility Operations is closed for the day, then Public Safety immediately calls Otis.

According to Kohl, this is the service company Facility Operations heavily depends on when it comes to malfunctions.

“Entrapments don’t happen often, they are very random and seldom,” Kohl said. “Even so, Otis responds immediately and takes care of the problem within five to ten minutes.”

Reassuring that safety is the number one priority, Kohl said that when receiving calls about malfunctions with the elevators, the Facility Operations team goes out to check the problem themselves before notifying Otis.

Standing in an elevator at the Loop location, a certificate of inspection is visible to all who ride. With the updated inspection dates ranging from 1999-2007, Kohl placed fault on the city of Chicago.

“There are a number of buildings that go without inspection because the city feels as though that with a contracted service company that we [DePaul] can go without an inspection,” Kohl said. “We’ve made several attempts to complain to the city about inspection and the response is that they’ll be out within the year but three years later…still nothing.”

Kohl also said that Chicago has fallen behind on its inspections. A new law legislated that the city is no longer responsible for the inspections but rather the building owners are handed the task of finding third party contractors to do the inspection. DePaul is left with elevators that haven’t been inspected for years while still having to pay the city for permits for any work done within the elevators.

“Starting this month DePaul’s certificates of inspection will be updated with new inspections,” Kohl said. “I personally feel like if students see Otis workers walking around they should definitely give them a pat on the back. They work hard to keep you safe.”

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Con-Artists Target Students Online Friday, Oct 29 2010

Published in The DePaulia on May 24, 2010.

College students and recent graduates have become prime targets for unrealistic job listings and DePaul students are no exception.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), open job boards have been infested with scam artists looking for new victims. Offenders consider college students and recent graduates as ideal candidates for the job and money making scams because of the desire for quick cash.

“It allows for anyone to post any new opportunity,” junior Zachary Stafford said. “I think it keeps up with our society’s new ideals around information instant gratification.”

Job boards such as Craigslist, Monster, Bing and Career Builder have all been sources for con artists to target the youth of a jobless America. However, each board claims that they are not involved in any transactions done and therefore cannot be held accountable.

“I’ve seen listings for easy money,” Steven Young said. “I’m always so tempted, but something inside of me says ‘don’t bother.’”

A recent victim of a scam (that did not want to be identified) stated that the criminals who post these listings usually live in a completely different state and are asking for an immediate hire. They use jobs such as personal assistant, mystery shopper and office clerk to get individuals intrigued.

Junior Brandon Bailey agreed that along with the promise of a quick hiring process comes the enticing allure of easy money that can be directly deposited into your bank account. Professional con artists make the process seem authentic and demanding in time so that an individual rushes in making a possible life changing decision.

“I sent them my resume and within the hour I received a response,” freshman Katie Sneed said (alias per request). “I thought it was weird, but I really needed a job and thought that this was the answer to my prayers.”

Sneed said that an immediate response entails the notification of hire and the description of what is to be expected from your newly found position without an interview.

Craigslist offers scam recognition in which they describe ways to spot a con artist. The job board concludes that the criminals’ demands generally consist of requesting your personal information such as: name, phone number, address and possibly your bank account number while promising cashier’s checks and money grams.

“We have to realize that these things do occur and if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is,” Bailey said. “Someone sent a friend of mine a message saying that they liked his resume for a personal assistant position and they sent him a check to cover expenses, half his payment, and half the payment for outside sourcing. He was sent a certified check for just over $3,500 that ended up bouncing.”

There are actions taking place to change the access these scam artists have to open job boards. The FTC recently announced at a conference on Feb. 17 a new method in cracking down on these criminals.

Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, David C. Vladeck, stated that scam artists are tricking job seekers into parting with their last dollars.

“Operation Bottom Dollar” has brought to close 11 cases of scams that deal with open job boards. However, this ruling only temporarily bars the con artists’ illegal tactics in money making. The FTC is also in the process of negotiating terms that would allow reimbursement to the victims of such criminal activity.

“Federal and state law enforcement officials will not tolerate those who take advantage of consumers in times of economic misfortune,” Vladeck said.

Sneed stated that open job boards were just sites that helped people find jobs.

“When I found out it was a scam it was too late,” she said. “I cut off all communication possible [with the con artist] because there wasn’t much else I could do I guess, except cry.”

Filing a complaint at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP provides the Federal Trade Commission with the tools to continue to crack down on criminals and keep job searches safe.

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Andrew Huff Speaks to DePaul Class About Founding Gapers Block Sunday, Sep 19 2010

Andrew Huff speaks to a DePaul University online journalism class (photo by Mike Reilley)

 

Andrew Huff spoke to a DePaul University online journalism class about the web publication Gapers Block and its mission to get its readers to slow down and check out the city of Chicago.  

“We’re not trying to get people to slow down their lives,” Huff said. “We’re trying to get them to notice the things around them.”  

Founded in 2003, Gapers Block has become one of the oldest blogs whose focus remains on Chicago. The publication’s staff, over 100 volunteers, provides information on news and events occurring throughout the city.  

“Basically what we tell [our writers] is if it’s interesting to you then it’s probably going to be interesting to our readers,” Huff said.  

With a degree in journalism from the Ohio State University, Huff began his own e-newsletter for friends and family.  Working in PR, he said that he wanted to keep his friends and family up to date on what was happening in his life.  

Soon after the e-newsletter he started a blog, me3dia.com.  He noted that it was much easier to start a blog back then because it was considered a rarity.  

“If I were to start a blog now I’d have a game plan on what I was going to cover,” Huff said. “I’d have a compelling voice that would differentiate me from my competition.”  

It is clear that Huff is growing in the public’s view with a recent interview in 2009 Crain’s Business “40 under 40,” which recognizes achievements bby young professionals.  He noted that the mention opened many other doors for him.  

Recently Gapers Block has received a $35,000 grant from “Community News Matters,” part of the Chicago Community Trust. This grant is to fund original news reporting from submissions entered in at the publication’s site.   

“What we want covered is whatever you think is worth sharing and related to Chicago,” Huff said.

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